Patrick Horvath’s “cozy horror” series about a Richard Scarey-esque bear who likes murder will return with a sequel series this summer. IDW will publish the six-issue Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rites of Spring beginning in July.
The original series, which debuted in late 2023, was nominated for several awards in both 2024 and 2025, and made my personal “best of” list for 2024. It featured a teddy bear/serial killer named Samantha, who took down a rival killer in her small town. In the new series, “there are no secrets in the age of the internet… and those who lost loved ones to her dark temptations are still searching for justice.”
“I’m supremely excited to return to the quaint town of Woodbrook to continue the story of our psychopath bear, Samantha Strong,” remarked Horvath. “I continue to be blown away by the response to the first book. In my wildest dreams I never thought it would have caught such a huge wave that spread out to other countries and languages. Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees continues to be a huge gift to me, and I’m grateful for all of the immense support from IDW, the retailers, critics, and fans.”
While it’s set in the future, IDW says the new series will also explore Samantha’s past:
Undoubtedly one of the most anticipated comics of 2025, BENEATH THE TREES WHERE NOBODY SEES: RITE OF SPRING #1 (of 6) takes place almost a decade after the stunning and blood-spattered events of the first hit series. Return to the seemingly idealistic suburban town of Woodbrook as Samantha, the bloodlusting brown bear, got away with her crimes and is now the town’s one and only serial killer. But times have changed, and Samantha will soon discover there are no secrets in the age of the internet… and those who lost loved ones to her dark temptations are still searching for justice. Plus, Samantha’s sinister origin story is revealed as the sequel revisits what happened after her very first kill.
The first issue will sport variant covers by Tony Fleecs and Riley Rossmo:
The first issue will arrive in stores on July 9.